Sports and a special guest

IN our weekly Nostalgia feature we publish a set of photographs shared by our regular nostalgia contributor, Peter Fisher.

This week we take a look back at some of the sporting events held across Rossendale in years gone by.

Our first picture of the week (top) is a snapshot of young children enjoying the sack race during a sports day held by Haslingden Methodists.

In our next picture (right), celebrity guest Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street, made a special appearance in Rossendale to kick-off at a charity football match at Dark Lane, Newchurch, in the sixties. The event was well attended and raised £1,000 for the blind.

Next (bottom right), we have a photograph of friends Susan Hayhurst and Sheila Riley playing tennis at Whitaker Park during the holidays.

Finally, our bottom left picture is a group shot of the talented Bacup Amateur Swimming Club ready to take part in a sponsored swim event in the sixties.

Unfortunately, it is not known exactly when each picture was taken.

If you have any pictures you would like us to feature on our Nostalgia page, or if you would like to get in touch, please email communities@